I chose to read 1984 by George Orwell because it intrigued me. From what I have heard about it, it is a story about a society that has completely changed. The government watches every single move you take and if you even THINK about defying them, you will be arrested and maybe even killed. The main character, Winston, decides to start writng a diary, however, this is forbidden. If he is caught doing this he will be captured and most likley killed. He does because he is tired of the government controlling society. It is time for him to take a stand.
Eagle Eye

This movie can be easily be related to 1984 because of the constant surveillance of society. In 1984, there are screens everywhere that are always watching you. The entire system is called Big Brother. The only difference is that in Eagle Eye, it tells the guy where to go and what to do. In 1984, you can do whatever, but if Big Brother catches you doing something wrong or even conspiring against the government, than they will capture and kill you. Another difference is that the society in the movie Eagle Eye is completely unaware that they are being watched (except for the chararacters that are being commanded by it, obviously). In 1984, they make it well known that society is constantly being watched because there are signs and posters everywhere saying "BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING YOU."
When reading 1984, I can't help but think of this song. It reminds me of Big Brother and how he's always watching everyone. This song can easily be related to 1984. Some of these commercial are really funny as well.

Minority Report

If you have even seen this movie starring Tom Cruise, then you already know that it can be related to 1984 for this main reason: Thoughtcrime. Minority Report, like 1984, is set in the future. In the beginning of the film, you see the success of what think they call "Precrime". This is a futuristic way a catching criminals before they commit their crimes. It is very effective, because there hasn't been a murder in years. Tom Cruise's character eventually gets caught up in his own case of thought crime, but I won't get into that right now. The main idea is that the makers of this film got the idea from George Orwell's 1984. If you get the chance to see it, I think you should. Although they stole the idea, it's still an intense movie to watch.
Relationship to Harry Potter

First of all, I'd like to address the fact that I think I know a little more than the average person about Harry Potter. So, if you have read
The Chamber of Secrects, then you remember that Harry had Tom Riddle's (a.k.a. Voldemort's) diary. Harry knows that
the book could be dangerous, yet he still writes in it to find more about Tom Riddle. Winston in 1984 is going through the same thing. He knows that there is a huge risk to writing the diary, yet he does it anyway. Now, I know in 1984 that the book isn't magic, but there is still a prevalent similarity.
Weezer - Pork and Beans

This song reminds me of 1984 because the words are very rebellious. In 1984, Winston is rebelling by writing in the diary, which is strictly forbidden. So forbidden, that the punishment would be complete and utter extermination. Anyway, the words in Pork and Beans go like "Ima do the things that I wanna do, I ain't gotta thing to prove to you." and "I ain't gonna wear the clothes that you like." This really hits home for 1984 because they have to wear uniforms.
Thoughts While Reading

When I read Georgre Orwell's 1984, it really gets me thinking. Is our world headed into the same direction as the book? Is it possible that in 2030 we could be under complete government control and surveillance? It's hard to tell, but we already have some rules put in place that might restrict our basic freedoms. For example, Mr. Dean one day was talking about a law that said if you have enough food stored in your home for at least 6 months, the the government labels you as a terrorist. I know that one is pretty extreme, but think about all the other topics the government gets involved in, such as abortion or gay marriage. In my opinion, the government should have no right to tell a woman what to do with her body or tell someone they can't marry someone of the same gender. If they are happy and pay their taxes and live their lives like all the other people, why should the government even think of intervening? To me that's just wrong. Tell me if you agree or think otherwise.
Long Form Article

I started searching for articles about privacy and surveillance because of my reading of 1984. I came across the article you see below. It talks about a company called Aristotle that may know more about us they we do ourselves. The CEO in the interview had access to many people's personal information, including their age, occupation, address(es), phone numbers, average annual income, political party, and so on. The CEO of this company takes information like this and sells it to campaigns for office. That is how the canidates of campaigns learn about the people they represent or will represent if they win. Personal information. Read this article and you will think twice about how private your life is.

Yeah I know, the guy says "What if?" a lot, but he really gets you thinking, like 1984 does. All the questions in this video have already come to reality in the book 1984. The government controls anything and everything. The only "freedom" you think you have are the options the government has approved for you to choose. Corruption. This entire book is about a world that has become increidbly corrupted. Hopefully, as a society, we never turn in to something like this.
The Government wants to steal information.

This video is kind of shocking, but you have to think logically before you start freaking out. Yes, the government wants to take information, but it's only information that has already been publicized! Whatever information you put about yourself on any social network such as Facebook or Twitter can be retrieved by anyone. That's the entire point of "social" networks, to find out about people (also known as creeping). People shouldn't lose their minds because the government is planning to steal info that they have already posted about themselves. If you really want privacy, don't go to social networks. It's common sense.
The man who wrote this article is probably paranoid, however, he makes soome good points. He starts talking about how everything is electronic now. Since the government could theoretically access any database (with good reason), they could track you down wherever you are. Also, he talks about phone tapping, which isn't as scary because more people are aware of it. Anyone that has seen a movie knows that if someone is trying to tell someone a top secrect over the phone, they have to resist and say "i can't say it now because we're on the phone. Meet me at... blah blah blah." Anyway, this is an interesting article. It's very eye-opening.

I awake to see that no one is free.
We're all fugitives
look at the way we live down here,
I cannot sleep from fear. no
I said which way do I turn?
Oh I forget everything I learn.

I think this song reflects the feelings of a lot of people in the book 1984. They always life in fear, because they are constanly being watched. they must feel like everyone - everything is a spy of some sort. That's why i posted this song. Plus, Coldplay is just too awesome.